Come Alive (The Cityscape 2)

I fingered a piece of hair and bit my lip near bloody as Gretchen threw me a hasty smirk.

“I agree completely,” David said. “She will make someone very happy.”

“Someone else?” Gretchen ventured.

“Someone else,” he agreed. “I have yet to make it official though, so I would appreciate your discretion.”

“Scout’s honor,” Gretchen said, holding up three fingers. “So then where’s your date tonight?”

I gave her an exasperated look.

“If you’ll excuse me, this is Maria now,” he said, pulling out his phone.

When he stepped away, I pinched her. “What are you – ” I stopped to glance at Greg. “Greg, can you give us a minute? What are you doing?” I asked when he’d left.

“This is for your protection, Liv. I told you already, he’s bad news. I don’t know why you’re still consorting with him.”

“We’re friends,” I said defensively.

“He can’t even stick with one girl for more than a few dates.”

“I don’t care who he sticks with,” I retorted. “It’s none of my business.”

“Then stop eye-fucking him, and get it together. Anyone can see that you’re ready to jump each other’s bones.”

I gasped and covered my mouth. “I am doing no such thing!”

“He doesn’t look very happy with Maria at the moment,” she observed over my shoulder. I turned and noticed his drawn features as he held the phone to his ear. He stood rigidly with one arm crossed over his chest as he appeared to be listening.

“Come on,” she said. “I have to break the seal.”

“I’m good,” I replied with a smug smile. I picked a quiet spot amongst the velvety cushions to people watch and wait for Gretchen. I was not alone long, for an attractive man of considerable height was suddenly looming over me.

“May I?” he asked, motioning to the space next to me.

“Sure,” I said, scooting aside.

“Are you part of the PR team?”

“No, just a guest. You?”

“We handle the advertising for this place. Steve,” he said, offering his hand.

“Olivia.”

“So Olivia, what do you do?”

I told him, and he smiled genially, remarking on how much he’d enjoyed an article the magazine had just published. He was good-looking, I noticed as he spoke. I fleetingly thought that I should introduce him to Gretchen before remembering that she was no longer available. He laughed at one of my comments and touched my knee.

“She’s with me.”

We glanced up at the same moment, my eyes taking a little longer to travel up David’s towering body.

“I’m sorry,” Steve said, making a show of getting up. “Just being friendly,” he added.

David did not move aside. When Steve stood, the men were almost nose to nose, except that David still held a couple inches over his imaginary adversary. And my David is infinitely more handsome, I thought. Wait – my David? Steve shuffled around him and slinked away as David took his place beside me.

“Is it necessary to remind you,” I started, “that we are not together and that implying so could give people the wrong idea?”

“He was bothering you.”

“He was being a perfect – we were just chatting,” I squeaked. I inched closer to him, hoping to get a whiff of the David cologne cocktail.

“Regardless, he should have checked your hand before embarrassing himself by trying to pick you up.”

“Like you did?” I asked, pursing my lips.

“That’s different.”

“How?”

He leaned back against the cushion so that I had to shift marginally to look at him. I was close enough that I wouldn’t have to move much further before my lips would land on his. His eyes traveled down my neck to my breasts before shooting back up to my face. “It just is.”

“That’s not an answer.”

He only grunted.

“Why is it all right for you to hit on me and not him?”

“Damn it, Olivia,” he hissed. “Don’t provoke me. It’s inappropriate for me to answer that.”

I reeled back marginally, and he reacted instantly, pulling me back by my upper arm. A familiar thrumming ignited throughout my body, and I gasped softly.

“Is there a problem here?” Steve asked from above, glowering at David’s hand on my bicep. He loosened his grip slightly and then dropped his hand.

“No, it’s fine,” I answered hastily.

Their eyes locked on each other, and I sensed David’s breathing deepen beside me. Steve looked between us, wariness etched in his fine features. I dismissed him with a thank you. I had experienced David when he was cross, and I didn’t want to be the cause of any problems.

“I’m sorry,” he said, pulling on his collar and glaring after Steve. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“You didn’t,” I said softly. “You’re upset. Does it have to do with Maria?”

He looked confused. “What?”

“You seemed angry on the phone.”

“Irritated is more like it.”

“Did she stand you up?”

He snorted. “No. For some unknown reason, she was upset that I didn’t invite her. But that’s not what is bothering me.”

“What then?”

“I don’t really feel comfortable talking about it.”

It was his turn to brush me off, but I didn’t intend to let him. Unfortunately, Gretchen picked that moment to drop onto the bench across from us.

“Hey,” she said with a stretched smile.

“Hi,” I said cautiously.

“Who’s the hottie that won’t stop staring at you?”

“Who?”

She indicated across the bar.

“Oh. That’s Steve.”

“Steve,” David muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index finger.

“He is s-e-x-y. But you probably don’t think so, do you?” she asked me.

I shifted and gave her a look.

“Liv never did go for the blonds,” Gretchen explained to David. “But that’s okay, more for me.”

“You smell like tequila,” I told her.

“I took a couple shots.” She leaned forward and put a finger over her lips. “Shh. Don’t tell Greg.”

“Aren’t you working?”

“No, no . . . I’m just here to party.”

“Okay,” I said, stifling a laugh.

“I’m going to talk to Steve.”

“Steve? What about Greg?” I asked.

“Oh, he won’t care,” she said, waving her hand at me. “Look but don’t touch, right?” she shouted and bolted upright. She swayed slightly and steadied herself on David’s shoulder. “Be back in a minute.”

I searched the room for Greg until I noticed that David was staring at me. He shook his head and swiped a hand over his face. “I’ll be a saint if I get through this night,” he muttered.

“You’re upset.”

“You are who’s pissing me off,” he said suddenly. “Not Maria. You.”

“Why?” I asked, trying to pinpoint anything in particular I might have done.

“You show up here, looking like that . . . .”

“Like what?” I asked, looking down at the jumpsuit.

“I want to rip that fucking thing off you.”

I sucked in a breath and flushed. His brazenness fired a sharp thril

l through me. “David,” I exhaled in admonishment.

“Fuck.” He sat forward abruptly, scrubbed his face with both hands and looked over at me. “I should go.”

“You’re leaving?” I asked as he stood.

“Hey, Liv, over here!” Gretchen called, waving me over.

I lifted a finger in her direction.

She said something to Steve and hurried over. “We’re all going upstairs to see the view from one of the rooms,” she told us. “You can come too, David,” she added with a smirk.

I glanced at him. “David was just leaving, actually.”

“Great,” she said, shrugging. “Let’s go.”

“Wait.” David caught my forearm gently. “Is he going?”

Gretchen and I looked in the direction he had jutted his chin.

“Who, Steve?” she asked. “Why, yes, it’s his room.” She grinned.

David blinked slowly and released my arm. With another glance at Steve, he said, “I’ll take you to the roof.”

“What about us?” Gretchen asked.

“You, as in, all of you.”

“Great,” she squealed and ran off.

“Mercurial much?” I muttered to myself as I trailed him out of the lounge.

David and I piled into one elevator with Gretchen’s co-workers while she hung back to wait for Steve. The girls had been rowdy in the elevator bank, but now they were silent.

Perfume filled the tiny space, and one girl flipped hair over her shoulder. “You’re David Dylan, right?”

He nodded.

“The place looks so good. I was just telling my friend that it’s gonna be the hottest hotel in Chicago.”

I was about to smirk when he gave her a prize grin. “What about the country?” he asked.

She giggled nervously. “That too.” There was whispering from the back of the elevator.

I looked away and crossed my arms. The whispers stopped when I felt David clear some hair from my neck. I whipped my eyes back to him, and he smiled barely. Just the ghost of his reassuring touch sent chills over my skin. The elevator dinged, and everyone waited as we held each other’s gaze.

I blinked and stepped out when someone cleared her throat. The girls tore across the hall to the penthouse suite. Despite their excitement, David was calm as he extracted the key from his pocket and opened the door. I glanced up and around the dimly-lit, romantic space. When I looked back, he and I were alone in the foyer.